FRINGILLID.E — THE FINCHES. 97 



the United States were observed by Captain McCown of the U. S. Army, 

 at Einggold Barracks, in Texas. Since then it has been procured by several 

 of the naturalists accompanying the government expeditions. It was ob- 

 tained in New Leon, Mexico, by Lieutenant Couch ; in Texas, by Major 

 Emory ; in Texas and at El Paso, by Lieutenant Parke. 



When first seen, in March, in the State of Tamaulipas, by Lieutenant 

 Couch, it was in flocks, very shy and difficult of approach. It did not occur 

 much in open fields, but seemed to prefer the vicinity of fences and bushes. 

 It was often seen in company with the common Cardinal. 



Dr. Kennerly found this bird quite abundant in the vicinity of El Paso, 

 but did not observe it elsewhere. It kept generally in flocks of from three 

 to six, frequenting the hedges and fruit-trees in the vicinity of houses. It 

 became very restless wlien approached, flying from branch to branch and 

 from tree to tree, uttering its peculiar note with great vehemence. 



Dr. Heermann met with the first specimen of this bird in a dry canon, a 

 little to the east of the crossing of San Pedro Eiver. It was perched on a 

 bush, seemed wearied and lost, and was probably a wanderer. No more were 

 seen iintil he readied El Paso. There he found it everywhere among the 

 hedges and trees, and continued to meet with it occasionally on his road, 

 until his party Jeft civilization behind. It erects its crest as it moves active- 

 ly about in search of food, and utters at intervals a clear, plaintive whistle, 

 varied by a few detached notes. 



Mr. Dresser considers tliis species rather a straggler from Mexico than as a 

 Texan bird. Near Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras he found it abundant, but 

 it became scarce as soon as he travelled a few miles into Texas. He saw none 

 north or east of the Leona. He was told that quantities breed near Eagle 

 Pass, and he saw not a few in cages that had been reared from the nest. 

 He found it a shy bird, and diflicult to shoot. When followed, it flies about 

 uneasily, perching on the top of some high bush, and erecting its long crest, 

 uttering a clear, plaintive whistle. Sometimes it would take to the thick 

 brushwood and creep through the bushes so that it was impossible to get a 

 shot at it. On the Lower Kio Grande it was of uncommon occurrence. He 

 noticed a single pair near Matamoras in August, 1864. 



Captain McCown, in his account of this species, published by Cassin, 

 writes that, so far as seen on the Eio Grande, this handsome species appeared 

 to have a strong partiality for damp and bushy woods. So far as he observed, 

 it never ventured far from the river. He was under the impression that this 

 bird remains in Texas all tlie year, having met with it so late in the fall and 

 again so early in the spring, that, if not constantly resident, its migrations 

 must be very limited. He describes it as a gay, sprightly bird, generally 

 seen in company with others of the same species, frequently erecting its 

 crest and calling to its mate or comrades. It is rather shy, and not easily 

 approached. In its voice and general habits it appeared to him very similar 

 to the common species. 



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